Written by on Aug 1, 2014. Posted in On Location

West Michigan Film Office gets cash injection to promote regional shooting

The West Michigan Film Office has been given a cash injection by state authorities to help promote regional filming. Michigan production tends to focus on Detroit in the east, with features like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice being among the current high-profile visitors.

West Michigan has hosted just one high-profile movie since the state’s filming incentive was scaled down in 2011. The new USD250,000 cash injection will help the region boost its Hollywood appeal, reports MLive.

“Three or four years ago, we had a substantial amount of projects on the west side of the state, which means hotel rooms and jobs,” said Rick Hert, Director of the West Michigan Film Office, in comments to the outlet.

“We want to generate that kind of interest again. It certainly is going to allow us to be much more aggressive in promoting the west side of the state. The difference will be much more time to be able to go to LA, attend the right shows and be more aggressive with these folks. It’s a big deal.”

Michigan’s Hollywood appeal declined when the state filming incentive’s annual fund was sharply reduced. The amount of money available currently changes each year, making nearby Chicago more popular as a TV filming location. However, Detroit has started to reclaim its status as a production hub by hosting films like Transformers: Age of Extinction and Batman v Superman, which is filming at Michigan Motion Picture Studios.

West Michigan is focussing on building a digital media industry, which involves attracting smaller-scale productions that the film office is better equipped to support.